[Composed 8/29/2025]
Thanks Mom and Dad!
A couple of years ago we found the pefect answer to one of my parent's FAQs: what can we get you guys for your anniversary? The answer: lounge access at the airport. This is the perfect gift because every time we take advantage of it, it feels like an absolute luxury.
And so today, as we flew from La'Guardia to DC, our first stop after security was the lounge, where we got to eat, drink and reflect on how amazing the last couple of days have been. Thanks Mom and Dad!
The lounge also delivered in terms of practicality. Shira and I needed to join a foster parenting related video call. Doing so in one of the lounge's mini-private meeting rooms was ideal, as convo could remain private. The fact that I could nosh on little pastries and drink tea while the meeting was going on was a nice bonus.
A Mid Air Mystery
Our flight back to DC was easy and the scenery gorgeous. I snapped some pics of what appeared to be an unexpected site in the area: pit mine or quarry. But for the life of me, I can't identify it.
I tried busting out my innner Sherlock Holmes, but every lead I chased down was a dead end. I checked Flight Aware to analyze our flight path, tried Googling landmarks that appeared in the photo and did a bit of timestamp math to determine where on our trip the photo was captured. Of course, I asked ChatGPT for help, but in this case, it told me to try the things I was already trying. How can such a disctinct location from above be invisible on the ground? On our next flight home from LGA, I'll keep my eyes peeled and the GPS Test app ready to grab a set of coordinates. This site can't hide forever.
A Little Less Tennis?
For the second year in a row, we visited the tournament on Tuesday and Wednesday, versus coming for the middle weekend. We did this last year out of neccessity, and this year because we liked the larger match selection the earlier days offer. Compared to last year, however, there was slighty less tennis going on. That's because for the first time in the Open era, the US Open started on Sunday and not Monday. Some players seem quick to point to this move as a way for the tourament to make more money. However, I have to imagine that spreading the tournament out over an extra day means that rain delays and other glitches don't quite pile up into the into scheduling nightmares; like they seem to do every year.
So while there was something special about having an impossible amount of tennis to watch on Tuesday, with matches going deep into the night, the extra day did seem to make the schedule more consumable. I have to imagine that's a good thing for the tournament.
Goodbye T6s, Hello JJ02 and OpenCamera
This year my US Open gear remained nearly unchanged in all but one department: my camera gear. In a major break of tradition, I left my Canon T6s DSLR with 300mm lens at home. The fact is, the aging DSLR just can't compete with the quality and convenience of my Galaxy S22 cell phone. I considered using this as an opportunity to slurge and pick up a new, probably mirror less camera. While I could no doubt get a camera that would outperform my cell phone, I can't justify the cost and bulk of such a setup. Whatever I'd gain in image quality, auto-focus speed and shots per second, I'd lose in portability. My goal is ultimately to capture the story of the Open, and my cell phone lets me do this more than well enough.
Still, I couldn't resist using the Open as a proving grounds for two new photography add-ons: one hardware, one software.
On the hardware side, I brought along a ULANZI JJ02. This is combination tripod, selfie-stick, bluetooth trigger and camera grip all in a fist-sized package. The JJ02, like most multi-purpose tools, doesn't fully excel in any one area. All the features work, but all have limitations that a dedicated item wouldn't have. For example, the tripod can has only the most basic adjustment options and the Bluetooth trigger isn't USB rechargable. Yet, the sheer portability and functionality of the JJ02 makes it a winner. The tournament forbids tripods and selfie-sticks, yet I had no problem bringing it through security. When we wanted to grab a group shot, the Ulanzi was quick to set up, use and tear down. I took well over 1,700 photos during the tournament and the grip definitely made the camera more comfortable to use. So yeah, the JJ02 may be a compromise, but on the balance, it's a winner.
On the software side, I experimented with using Open Camera. Conventional wisdom is that no 3rd party app can beat the phone's built in camera. That's because the built in camera has access to features that aren't available to 3rd party apps. And for everyday use, I find this to be true. Yet, Open Camera does have a number of advantages that made it shine during the Open. The repeat option let me capture sequences of images with ease. I was also able to select Focus Continous Picture, so that the camera refocused on each shot. Combining these features let consistently snap action sequences.
Other cool features that Open Camera offers includes exposure and focus bracketing, focus peeking, alternative implementations of HDR and NR modes, and impressive control over things like file naming and image metadata.
The user experience of OpenCamera is far less sexy than the built in photo app. Yet, it brings a degree of consistency which is much appreciated. Most importantly, the apps settings are truly sticky. If I carefully input a series of settings, they aren't lost, as often seems to happen with Pro mode in the stock camera.
For day to day snapshots, the S22's default camera is amazing. But for specialized tasks, Open Camera is an excellent tool to have in the toolkit.
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